Substance profile
Dibutyl Phthalate
Dibutyl Phthalate is a colorless to faint yellow, oily liquid with a slight, aromatic odor.
01 · Identification
What Dibutyl Phthalate is
Dibutyl Phthalate is a colorless to faint yellow, oily liquid with a slight, aromatic odor. Its molecular formula is C16H22O4 and its molecular weight is 278.34 g/mol. It boils at 340 °C, melts at -35 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
Dibutyl Phthalate identifiers and molecular data
Dibutyl Phthalate CAS number and EC number
Dibutyl Phthalate molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Dibutyl Phthalate
- DBP
03 · GHS classification
Dibutyl Phthalate hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Dibutyl Phthalate pictograms and signal word
Dibutyl Phthalate hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
Dibutyl Phthalate hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H360Df | May damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Dibutyl Phthalate. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Dibutyl Phthalate
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Dibutyl Phthalate issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Dibutyl Phthalate precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 3 precautionary statements to Dibutyl Phthalate. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Dibutyl Phthalate name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | дибутилов фталат DBP |
| Spanish español | Ftalato de dibutilo DBP |
| Czech čeština | dibutyl-ftalát DBP |
| Danish dansk | dibutylphthalat DBP |
| German Deutsch | Dibutylphthalat DBP |
| Estonian eesti | dibutüülftalaat DBP |
| Greek ελληνικά | φθαλικός διβουτυλεστέρας φθαλικό διβουτύλιοDBP |
| English English | dibutyl phthalate DBP |
| French français | phtalate de dibutyle DBP |
| Croatian hrvatski | dibutil-ftalat DBP |
| Italian italiano | ftalato di dibutile DBP |
| Latvian latviešu | dibutilftalāts DBP |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | dibutilftalatas DBP |
| Hungarian magyar | dibutil-ftalát DBP |
| Maltese Malti | ftalat tad-dibutil DBP |
| Dutch Nederlands | dibutylftalaat DBP |
| Polish polski | ftalan dibutylu DBP |
| Portuguese português | ftalato de dibutilo DBP |
| Romanian română | ftalat de dibutil DBP |
| Slovak slovenčina | dibutyl-ftalát DBP |
| Slovenian slovenščina | dibutil ftalat DBP |
| Finnish suomi | dibutyyliftalaatti DBP |
| Swedish svenska | dibutylftalat DBP |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Dibutyl Phthalate GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Dibutyl Phthalate, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Dibutyl Phthalate
- May damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Dibutyl Phthalate in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Dibutyl Phthalate health hazards and exposure limits
Dibutyl Phthalate hazard summary
Di-n-phtalate is a manufactured chemical that does not occur naturally. It is an odorless and oily liquid that is colorless to faint yellow in color. It is slightly soluble in water and does not evaporate easily. Di-n-phtalate is used to make plastics more flexible and is also in carpet backings, paints, glue, insect repellents, hair spray, nail polish, and rocket fuel.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Dibutyl Phthalate carcinogenicity classification
Under the conditions of these 2âyear feed studies, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) in male Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats based on marginal increases in the incidence of pancreatic acinus adenomas. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of DBP in female Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats at exposure concentrations of 300, 1,000, 3,000, or 10,000 ppm.
Source: US National Toxicology Program · TR-600: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Di-n-butyl Phthalate (CASRN 84-74-2) Administered in Feed to Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) Rats and B6C3F1/N Mice (2021 )
Cancer Classification: Group D Not Classifiable as to Human Carcinogenicity
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
CLASSIFICATION: D; not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: Pertinent data regarding carcinogenicity was not located in the available literature. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None. ANIMAL CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
Dibutyl Phthalate occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 5.0 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 5 mg/m³ | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 5 mg/m3 | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 5 mg/m³ | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 5 mg/m3 | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 4000 mg/m3 (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 4000.0 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 4000 mg/cu m | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Dibutyl Phthalate properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Dibutyl Phthalate boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 340 °C (644 °F) | HSDB | |
| 340 °C (644 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Dibutyl Phthalate melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -35 °C (-31 °F) | HSDB |
Dibutyl Phthalate density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.05 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 1.0459 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.049 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
Dibutyl Phthalate solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | More soluble in than in water & increased solubility with pH rise | perspiration | HSDB |
| Very soluble in acetone, benzene | HSDB | ||
| In water, 11.2 mg/L at 20 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB |
Dibutyl Phthalate vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0.00007 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 0.000014 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| 0.0000201 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Dibutyl Phthalate flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 157.22 °C (315 °F) | HSDB |
Dibutyl Phthalate autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | 402.78 °C (757 °F) | HSDB | |
| 402 °C (755.6 °F) | ICSC |
Dibutyl Phthalate lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 0.5 % by volume | CAMEO |
Dibutyl Phthalate upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 2.5 % by volume | CAMEO |
Dibutyl Phthalate vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 9.58 (air = 1) | HSDB |
Dibutyl Phthalate odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | In humans, an olfactory threshold value ranging from 0.26 to 1.47 mg/cu m. | was found | HSDB |
Dibutyl Phthalate critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 523.85 °C (974.9 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Dibutyl Phthalate fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Dibutyl Phthalate fire potential
Combustible
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Dibutyl Phthalate storage and handling
Dibutyl Phthalate safe storage
Separated from strong oxidants.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Dibutyl Phthalate storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Dibutyl Phthalate incompatible materials
Liquid chlorine reacts explosively with ...dibutyl phthalate.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Dibutyl Phthalate reactivity
N-BUTYL PHTHALATE is an ester. Esters react with acids to liberate heat along with alcohols and acids. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated by the interaction of esters with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing esters with alkali metals and hydrides. Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents and strong bases. Will not polymerize. (USCG, 1999). Can generate electrostatic charges. [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 250].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Dibutyl Phthalate in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Dibutyl Phthalate — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Dibutyl Phthalate?
The CAS number of Dibutyl Phthalate is 84-74-2. Its EC number is 201-557-4.
What is the chemical formula of Dibutyl Phthalate?
The molecular formula of Dibutyl Phthalate is C16H22O4 and its molecular weight is 278.34 g/mol.
What does a Dibutyl Phthalate label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Dibutyl Phthalate carries the pictograms Health hazard and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Dibutyl Phthalate flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Dibutyl Phthalate no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it. The flash point reported for it is 157.22 °C (315 °F) (HSDB).
Is Dibutyl Phthalate a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Dibutyl Phthalate. Annex VI is a list of agreed classifications, not a list of substances found safe, so this is an absence of a classification rather than a clean bill of health.
What is the exposure limit for Dibutyl Phthalate?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Dibutyl Phthalate is 5.0 [mg/m3] (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Dibutyl Phthalate?
The boiling point reported for Dibutyl Phthalate is 340 °C (644 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Dibutyl Phthalate?
The melting point reported for Dibutyl Phthalate is -35 °C (-31 °F) (HSDB).
How should Dibutyl Phthalate be stored?
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
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